Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 26

**Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint**

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“Miss Grace, would you like to come upstairs?”

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication, as I stared at Mr. Aiden, my mind racing to process the news.

“Grace, from today, the boss wants you to work directly under him. You’re to go upstairs,” he reiterated, his voice steady and serious.

I felt my thoughts grind to a halt, like a car stalling on the highway.

Upstairs. Directly under Apollo.

A soft, incredulous laugh bubbled up from my throat, and I shook my head in disbelief. “Ah… I must’ve lost my mind. Yeah, that’s it. I’ve officially gone crazy,” I said, half-joking, half-terrified.

There was absolutely no way—no way in hell—that I, Grace, would be working under that man. That demon. Me? In this enormous company, bustling with over a thousand employees? Surely, there had to be some mistake.

I turned to Mr. Aiden, searching his face for a hint of jest, hoping for a punchline that would allow us all to share a laugh. But he was dead serious, his expression unwavering.

I raised a finger, pointing at myself, my brow furrowing in confusion. “Me?”

“Well, as far as I know, you’re the only Grace here, aren’t you?” he replied smoothly, then turned to the woman beside me. “Sienna, what did Chase say again?”

Sienna, tapping away at her tablet, looked up and said, “Hmm, he mentioned the one with the big glasses, short blonde hair, and clothes that look like she’s heading to the library.”

Aiden’s eyes roamed over me, taking in every detail.

“So yeah. Definitely you.”

My knees buckled beneath me, a wave of dizziness crashing over my senses.

River, standing close by, caught my elbow just in time, concern etched across his face. “Hey—are you okay?”

I let out a nervous chuckle, but it came out wrong, tinged with panic. “The universe has forsaken me after all,” I muttered, my voice shaky. “It didn’t forget me, it just decided to toss me straight into the lion’s den.”

River blinked at me, clearly confused.

“I need to see a priest,” I continued, almost to myself. “No, scratch that, I need an exorcist. Something is seriously off with me. I must have done something unforgivable in a past life.”

His eyes widened in alarm. “Grace… calm down. You’re trembling.”

Of course, I was trembling! I wanted to scream. If the devil himself had just summoned you to work directly under him, wouldn’t you shake too?!

Mr. Aiden sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but the boss was quite specific. He said you made a significant contribution to solving the Reed celebrity case.”

My heart raced. The Reed celebrity case was resolved? Did he manage to fix everything just by speaking with the parents? More importantly, how had I contributed to any of this?

I swallowed hard, realizing this was not the moment to dwell on that thought.

Straightening my posture, I forced a smile, though it felt strained. “But must it be me? Surely, there are others who are more qualified.”

One of the girls nearby scoffed loudly, her disdain palpable. “Exactly! There are so many more talented people here. Like me, for instance. Why does she get to work under the boss?”

She scrutinized me with a sneer, her eyes narrowing. “She doesn’t even look the part. I mean, she’s not that pretty, and she doesn’t seem smart either.”

The two girls flanking her nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring her contempt. “Yeah, she looks like a freak.”

“We can’t let her around our daddy—I mean, the CEO.”

Their words stung, but not as much as they likely intended. In fact, I found myself agreeing with them.

“Exactly!” I exclaimed, nodding fervently. “I’m not the right person for this. I wholeheartedly support your opinions. Please, take my place.”

The three girls blinked at me in surprise. Even River looked taken aback.

“I’m clumsy,” I added desperately, grasping at straws. “I can’t even stay in one spot for more than five minutes. With the CEO’s temper, he’ll definitely not tolerate someone like me.”

Mr. Aiden regarded me, then burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the office.

I blinked, taken aback. Was he… mocking me?

“I’ve been working here for ten years,” he said between chuckles, “and you’re the first person I’ve met who doesn’t want to work directly under the boss. Usually, girls your age would be practically fainting at the mere thought of him breathing near them.”

I was at a loss for how to interpret that comment—was it a compliment or an insult?

Turning his attention back to the girls still glaring at me, he continued, “From what I see, Grace here is more capable than any of you. She was the top student in her class. And more importantly, she assisted Mr. Apollo in solving the Reed case—something none of you could do. So if you’re looking for someone more capable, you’re looking at her. And if you doubt her, then you’re doubting him. And just so we’re clear, Mr. Apollo never makes mistakes.”

One of the girls, her mouth agape, stammered, “O-of course not, sir! We were just joking. We would never doubt the CEO’s decisions.”

“Yes, Grace is perfect for the job!” another chimed in, their tone suddenly sycophantic.

They all bowed slightly and hastily retreated.

Mr. Aiden turned back to me, a smile gracing his lips. “You don’t need to thank me, dear. From now on, no one is going to bully you. Just focus on your work.”

I wanted to punch him.

Really, I did. A solid jab to the gut.

Excuse me, did I ask for your help?

But he was my superior in PR, and I had to respect the hierarchy. So instead, I plastered on a smile. “Thank you so much for your generosity.”

He chuckled, clearly amused. “I told you not to thank me, but you’re very welcome! Now pack your things and head upstairs. You can’t keep the boss waiting.” He turned to Sienna and added, “Let’s go grab something hot. I’m craving sushi.”

Was the CEO… having sex in there?

My face flushed instantly, a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.

Okay, I needed to leave. I needed to turn around and walk away. I spun on my heel, but hesitated once more.

What if he was hurt? That didn’t sound like the sexy kind of groaning.

“Ah.” I groaned inwardly.

Why did I even have a conscience? Why did I care if he was in pain? A man like him wasn’t supposed to feel pain. But he was still human… wasn’t he?

Maybe.

Ugh. I hated myself for caring.

I looked around again, then tiptoed toward his office. I bent down, squinting through the glass wall, trying to catch a glimpse inside.

I couldn’t see anything.

I slowly inched the door open, heart pounding in my throat.

Apollo was slumped over his desk, drenched in sweat, his hand gripping the edge of the table tightly. He let out another low groan, muttering something unintelligible under his breath.

Was he having a nightmare?

I took a cautious step forward, my feet barely making a sound on the polished floor as I moved closer. His face was tense, brows furrowed, and for a fleeting moment, he looked vulnerable.

I hesitated, then reached out to touch his temple, checking for fever. But before I could make contact, his eyes snapped open, locking onto mine.

I gasped, and everything after that unfolded in a blur.

My wrist was suddenly caught in a firm grip. His other arm wrapped around my waist, and before I could scream, think, or even breathe, I found myself pressed flat against the desk, my hands pinned above my head.

I stared up at him, wide-eyed and utterly speechless.

Apollo loomed over me, his body positioned between my legs, eyes dark with confusion and tension.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me.

“Oh,” he said casually, his voice husky from sleep.

“I-I swear on my life, Mr. Apollo,” I sputtered, panic rising in my chest, “I wasn’t trying to—! I thought you were hurt, and no one was here, and…”

He interrupted me, leaning in closer, his lips just an inch from my ear. “Miss Grace, would you like to come?”